NEW YORK — As the postseason of Major League Baseball unfolds, viewership has seen a notable rise, averaging 3.33 million viewers as the league championship series approaches. This reflects an 18% increase compared to last year’s average of 2.82 million.
During the division series, the viewer count reached an average of 3.56 million across 18 games, marking a 14% improvement from the previous year. The surge in ratings during this round can be linked to several factors, including two series that extended to decisive Game 5s, as well as the participation of popular teams such as those from New York, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Philadelphia Phillies.
A highlight in viewership occurred during the National League Division Series Game 5 on Friday night, where the tilt between the Dodgers and the San Diego Padres drew an impressive average of 7.5 million viewers across platforms including Fox, Fox Deportes, and streaming services. This makes it the most-watched division series game since 2017.
Additionally, the afternoon game on Saturday featuring the Cleveland Guardians against the Detroit Tigers averaged 3.42 million viewers on TBS. This figure represents the highest viewership for a division series day game (prior to 4 p.m.) in a remarkable 17 years. The matchup, initially planned for a nighttime slot, was rescheduled to the afternoon due to impending inclement weather.
Fox and FS1 reported an average of 4.09 million viewers for the National League games, achieving their best ratings since the network began broadcasting postseason baseball in 2014. The presence of the Phillies-Mets series contributed significantly to these numbers, with the Mets advancing in four games.
On the other side, the American League Division Series, broadcasted by TNT and TBS, averaged around 3 million viewers, particularly for the series in which the Yankees triumphed over the Kansas City Royals in four games.
Overall, these heightened ratings signify an exciting moment for baseball as it captures the attention of a larger audience.